Tension over puja mandap erupts in Odisha’s Dhenkanal

A dispute over the construction of a permanent village puja committee hall has flared up tension at Dhobabahali village under Kamakhyanagar tehsil of Dhenkanal district. 

According to a source, the village puja committee is constructing a permanent structure to hold Kartika puja in the village. The dispute started when Shukadeb Pati, a villager, raised an objection. He is alleging that the committee hall is obstructing the passage to his farmland. 

Alleging the construction of the committee hall would block the way, Pati also took the issue up with the tehsildar and the District Collector. 

“The permanent construction has obstructed the way to our farmlands,” said Pati. 

On the other hand, a member of the Kartikeswar Puja Committee, Rajesh Kumar Sahu alleged, “We have been organising the puja for the last eighteen years. I have no idea that the puja mandap is on his land. The objection came only after we covered the roof with asbestos.”

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Meanwhile, Kamakhyanagar tehsildar Priyabrata Das intervened and after considering the allegations and counter allegations of both sides said that the puja mandap would be evicted. 

“Our preliminary investigation revealed that there is a permanent structure and the idol construction is going on. So after the puja, we will take steps for eviction after serving a notice to the puja committee,” said the tehsildar.